Rotten Fish Kids

In Manila, Philippines one missionary heard about Rotten Fish Kids. The street kids in Manila would gather in the night. They were extremely poor that they gathered up the smelly, rotten fish discarded by the fishing boats and left on the pier docks in the hot weather. The missionary with his team went to meet them at 2.00 A.M. to share the love of the Lord Jesus Christ with them. The children gathered to listen to them with great enthusiasm. The missionary could not sleep later thinking about the Rotten Fish kids who had no parents, food, place to sleep, clothes, and medical care. That began a ministry that takes care of about one thousand such children.

Compulsion Why should a missionary sacrifice his sleep to see those children in the middle of the night? Paul writes that the love of the Lord Jesus Christ compels His children to go out to show love, do good works, and share the gospel. (II Corinthians 5:14-17) This irresistible, nudging, and caring love moves the hearts of millions of missionaries to serve.

Call The missionary was led by His Spirit to go and serve those people. He felt God calling him to serve these abandoned children of a mega city. God calls His children to His service and gives them a ministry to do.

Commission The Great Commission given by the risen Lord Jesus Christ applies to every believer. (Matthew 28:18-20) It is not just for those in full-time ministry like pastors, missionaries, bible teachers, or social workers.

Contribution The scene of rotten fish kids, moved the missionary to action. He prayed, shared, gathered volunteers, and sponsors, and started a mission of feeding, caring, and educating them.

Cultural transformation The megacity did not care for the abandoned children who were like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36) No one bothered about the perishing children. Only the compassionate gospel light could save them. An uncaring and ruthless culture is challenged and transformed into a serving culture.